ataraxion | [text, two hours before the Jump]

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[text, two hours before the Jump]

All non-essential personnel are ordered away from the doors outside the bridge. Security will be using force to subdue and remove anyone who does not comply with this order. Please use this time to gather your things and proceed to the stasis pods for the Jump.

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[A pause.]

Please; I have to stay

I said no.
Medbay, now.
Take it as an order.

[Switching to private - ]

Please. I'll be sensible and leave in time. I swear.

Did any of that sound like I was open to negotiation?
I gave you an order.
If you don't go in the next half hour I'm tranqing you + dragging you down there myself.

I have to be conscious & here to make sure others don't stay around; expending resources like that could cause the loss of civilian lives

I'm not arguing this with you.

Then who will stay here

I am.

You have no special ability that would help you get the doors open. I do. I am far more useful there than you would be.

I'm not staying to get the doors open.
I'm staying to make sure the area is cleared + everyone gets to stasis.

[A pause.]

So we must simply leave them to die?

We must keep as many people alive as possible.

[It's exactly what he's been saying to others, but he needs it out of someone else's mouth. It's selfish, but this needs to be not of his initiative.]

How can we live with ourselves if we let them die?

We didn't let them die.
We have done everything in our power to save them.
This fucking ship has killed them.
+ you live because you can't let it kill anyone else.

[She's right. He closes his eyes a moment and just thinks about it; finally, viciously, he types a response:]

They killed themselves. We told them this would happen. We told them it would go wrong. Everyone knew.

They were trying to fight.

You fight intelligently. You keep yourself alive so that you can go home. That is what you have to do.

Yes.
But no fight is ever guaranteed.

I hope they're listening to this, knowing that people are sitting out here talking about throwing their lives away because they chose to throw their away. I hope they hear.

No.
They shouldn't be thinking about shit like that when the jump hits.

[A pause. He's struggling with his need to be angry, or to be...something, and without grounding on what he's supposed to be he just - is off-balance, doesn't know what he ought to...

He shakes his head. Swallows. Finally types back, tersely:]

I'll be along

[But guilt is rising up again, enough that he'll be dragging his feet.]

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